Striping tool



March 4, 1930. v. M. DlRKEs Er Ax.

STRIPING TOOL Filed sept. 6, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 v um' Marh 4, 1930. v. M. DIRKEs ET Al.

STRIPING TOOL Filed sept. 6, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ARN..

, r 'III %arzz/mfrf ze l v6( 62? 's Smets-sheet 5 V. M. DIRKES ET AL STRIPING TOOL Filed Sept. 6, 1928 March 4, 1930.

Patented Mar.. 4, i930 UNITED STATES yPATENT OFFICE A vrNcENT im. Dmxns AND onzA L. TEBNA, or DETROIT, monIGAmAssieigons 'ro GENERAL morons nEsEAncn CORPORATION, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A ConronA'rION or DELAWARE .Salemme Toon,

Apbneation mea sgptemberaisas.. serial iro. 304,804.

This invention relates-to an instrument for applying a paint line or stripe, and will be found particularly useful in the aint department of automobile body manu acturing 'Q plants, where hi hly paid skilled workmen are now employe to apply ornamental striping with a hand brush.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tool, which in the hands of the ordinary person without any special skill, will apply a uniform stripe, simply in the time required to move the tool over the surface, whereby the striping operation will be reduced to more lor less of a mechanical rocedure with a ma terial saving in time, la or and cost.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a tool which may be guided valong the work and will automatically apply the striping material in proportion to the speed at which the tool ismoved across the surface to be marked.

Another object is to provide im roved valve mechanism for'controlling the ow of stri ing material and which in addition to cutting olf the flow at the completion of the striping operation will act to retract the -material at the discharge o ening and so prevent a blotch at the end o the stripe.

A still further object is to provlde an arrangement for replacing the striping material discharged from the tool in a manner to prevent the entrance of air and the formation of air pockets,' which, besides impairing the operation of the tool might tend to dry and harden the striping material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a striping device embodying a valve that is automatically opened -to allow the flow of striping material when the device is brought into contact with the work.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification taken in connection with the wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a striping tool made in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1. Q

, movable the .stripe is to be accompanying drawings, y

Figure 3 is a sectional view modified striping tool.

.Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of Fi re 3. y

igure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

vFigure 6 is a sectional view of a stripe applng device. l

igure 7 is a section illustrating an alternative form of the device shown in Figure 6.

Figures 8 and 9 are elevations from opposite sides of the device shown in Figure 7 Figure 10 is a sectional view illustrating a further modification, and

Figure 11 is an elevation partly in section of the tool shown in Figure l0. Referring to the drawing, the character .1 indicates a cylinder or container in which -is illustrating a' skirt 3, projecting into the domed cover or cap 4 and held against rotation by a key 5 secured to the guide portion 6 of the-cap and extending into a way formed in the side of the skirt 3. In the end of the skirt is secured an interiorly threaded bushing 7 with which is engaged the screw 8 formed on a rod or shaft 9 that extends through the bottom wall of the cylinder 1 and has pinned thereon the gear 10, meshing with a worm 11 on the shaft 13. The shaft 13 is journaled in the forks 14, integral with the cylinder 1, and carries a pair of wheels 15 spaced apart so as to engage withv the body or work 16 on opposite sides of the molding strip 17, on which the placed. The wheels 15 are preferably provided with rubber tires 18 which serve to frictionally engage the surface of the body 16 and at the same time pre' vent marring or scratching of the painted surface.

Besides serving as a guide for thev tool as it isdrawn alon the work, the wheels, by their rotation, drive the gearing to move the piston 2 in the cylinder 1, and so cause the discharge Yof the paint or striping material.

As the piston moves in the cylinder, it draws to which is secured a valve or cock 22 connecting the interior of the cap with a 1ine 23, leading from a suitable source of paint. Such source of paint is preferably under a slight pressure so that under the combined action of pressure and piston suction,a positive supply behind thepiston is insured..`

A passageway 25, formed by a drllled boss or projection at the side ofthe cylinder, connects opposite sides of the piston 2 and'is provide with a control valve 26 which 1s closed on the discharge stroke of the piston. When the piston reaches its lowermost limit, the rotation of the wheels 15 is reversed, as for instance by bringing them in contact with a moving belt or a rotating drum, to retract the piston in the cylinder. 'During such reversal, the valve 26 is opened and the stop cock 22 is closed, so that the striping material on the inlet side of the piston is forced through the passageway 25to the outlet side.

Thus, there will be no necessity for opening the cylinder for re-charging, and the possibility of air entering the interior of the tool is eliminated. The travel of the piston to discharge the striping material being con-- trolled by the rotation of the wheels 15 as the tool ismoved along the work, insures a positive even discharge and a uniform stripe throughout the movement regardless of speed.

At the outlet from the cylinder 1 is a socket member comprising the portions 30 and 31 secured to each other by screws or bolts 32 and holding in place a ball mem- -ber comprising semi-spherical portions 33 and 34 that are. clamped together bythe socket members about a tubular element 35, within which is slidably positioned a sleeve or plunger 36 having a reduced shoulder portion 37 forming a seat for the tapered end of the valve stem 38. Securedat one end of the tube 35 is a nozzle 40 and on the other end is a bracket 41, having an arm 42 terminating in an eye 43 surrounding the valve stem 38. Coil springs 44 and 45 interposed' between the eye 43 and collar 46 pinned on the valve stem and the. eye 43 and outturned flange 47 of the sleeve 36, respectively, urge the sleeve and valve stem toward the nozzle end of the tube. Pivotally mounted on the arm 42 is a lever 50 having a forked end 61 to engage a collar 52 on the end of the valve stem so that the depression of the'lever 50 moves the stem against the tension of its spring 44 to open the valve and allow the striping fluid to flow through the nozzle onto the work. A set screw 53 serves to limit the movement of the lever 50 to control the amount of striping fluid discharged through the nozzle `for any particular job. vThe collar 4l also serves as a pivotal mounting for a lever 54 having a forked extremity 55 for engagement with the terminal flange 47 to move the tubular sleeve 36. against the spring 45. When the valve is open and the tool'reaches the end of the stripe the lever 50 is released to close the valve and at the same time the lever 54 iS depressed to move the sleeve 43 and with it the valve stem 38, thereby causing a suction or pump likeI action at the lnozzleend to retract anycstriping material v33 and 34 may be relieved so as to allow the axial shifting) of the tubular member 35 relative to the all portions. If desired, other forms of stripe applying devices may be used with the liquid container or cylinder.

In Figure`3, a cylinder 60 has fitted therein at one end a tubular member 61 on the end of which is removably secureda brush holder 62 for applying the stripe to the molding, and at the other end of which is secured a coupling 63 having attached thereto an elbow fitting 64 connected by a ipe or conduit 65 with a suitable source ofp stri ing material under pressure. Within the tube 61 is a slidable sleeve 66 that is held against a shoulder 67 in the tube 61 by a coil spring 68. Extending through thesleeve 66 is a stem 69 having a conical valve head 7() vadapted to seat on the end of the` sleeve and which is secured to the end of a stem 71 that is alsol provided with a valvehead72havingaconical seat 73 formed in the end of the coupling 63.

`The end of the stem 71 extends through the tending through an eye in the bottom of the stem 79 is an arcuate rack 82 into the teeth of which the wedge shaped portion 83 of the eye is adapted to' extend to hold the lever in certain positions of adjustment to which it may be moved.

Projecting laterally from one side of the cylinder 60 is a tubularmember85 in which is rotatable' a located olf center or to one side of the axis of rotation of the bushing 86. On the end of the shaft 87 is rotatably mounted a guide wheel or roller 88 l for engagement with the molding strip to be striped. The off Vcenter relation of the 'shaft 87 an'd bushing 86 perbushing 86 carrying a shaft 87 mits an adjustment of the roller with respect the paint or other striping material flows ,freely through the tool to the surface to be striped. 4'When it desired to cut ofll the flow the stem 79 is depressed to allow the lever to be swung, the link 77 transmitting such movement to the valve stems which first.

causes. the head 70 to seat, the continued movement of the stems sliding the sleeve 66 agalnst the tension of.the spring 68, until v the valve head 72 is seated. jThe initial seatring 93 and on through the brush bristles 94, v lsecured in the ring93 and held by the conical member 95, onto the surface to be striped. A stem 96 extends through the container and out the lower end thereof, and carries a bulb' or enlargement 97, that is adapted to squeezey together or compress the fibres of the brush,

and also a ball 98 that seats against the end of the ring 92. When the ball 98 is on its seat andthe bulb 97 is compressing the brush bristles, no paint can-flow through the device, butsince the end of the stem projects :through the open bottom ofthe container,`

itwill contact with the surface of the work when' a stripe is to be made, Ato move the bulb 97 away from the brush and the ball 98 ofi' its seat against the tension of the spring 99, to

.allow the passage of paint through the device and the spreading of the palnt Aby the brush. Y

The device maybe provided with a rearwardly curved holder 100 as shown in Figure 7 which 'will permit the bristles to terminate in a feather edge, and the end of the valve stem 96 to extend through the 'side of the holder in advance of the brush. i The contact of the stem 96 with the work in advance 'of the brush, will open the valve Without the possibility of marring the stripe as it is laid down by the brush. A holder or bracket 101 is shown secured to the casing 90 by a screw 102 for carrying the shaft 103 on which is` rotatably mounted a guide roller 104.4

A somewhat similar brush arrangement is shown in Figure 10, which also illustrates a device for making two stripes on a molding positioned in la corner. Each brush holder i brush 112. The stem 113 that contacts with the work carries the bulb 114 and ball 115 110 is secured in the head 111`and carries a "and opens these valve elements against the piston 124 toy move the piston in the container ,121 and force the striping material onto Lthe' surface to be striped. The piston has a stem 125 cariving a ball valve 126 at its upper end which is adapted for seating engagement with a ring 127 upon the downward movement of the piston, compressing the spring 128 Iand uncovering the vent or relief' hole 129 in the lside of the conduit 123.

Various other modifications may be made as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

ment of': the partition in the opposite direc-l tion.

2. The structure of claim 1 and a valve controlling fluid flowthru the passageway. A 3. The structure of claim 1 and valve elements controlling fluid flow thru the passageway, the inlet and the outlet respectively.

4. In a striping tool, a container for striping fluid, a movable partition in said container, an outlet on one side of the partition thru which the striping fluid is discharged upon movement of the partition in one direction, a valve for closing the outlet upon reverse movement of the partition, an inlet on the opposite side of the partition thru which fluid enters upon the discharging movement of the partition, a valve rfor closing the inlet upon reverse movement of the partition, a passage-way providing communication between opposite sides of the partition, and a valve for closing said passageway during the discharging movement of said partition.

5. In a striping tool, a container for striping fluid. a: piston in said container, means contacting the work for moving the piston as the tool is drawn along the work to discharge fluid from the container, a source of fluid connected with the container opposite'the discharge side of the piston whereby a new charge of fluid enters the container behind the piston as the fluid on the discharge side is being discharged, and a passageway connecting opposite sides of' the piston to permit said new charge to enter the discharge side lof the piston whe-n saii operating means is actuated to reverse the movement of the piston. Y

6. In a striping tool, a cylinder, a reciprocatory piston therein, an outlet and an inlet for striping material on opposite sides of the piston, a passageway between opposite sides of the piston, and operating means for the piston, the-operation being such that the movement of the piston-in one direction discharges striping material in the cylinder on one side of the piston through said-outlet and draws in a new supply on the op osite side of the piston thru said inlet and t e reverse movement of the piston forces the ma- .terial on the inlet side thru said passageway to the outlet side of the piston.

7. The structure'- of claim l6 wherein the operating means'includes gearing mechanism 4that contacts with the workto actuate the piston as the stripe is applied.

8.- In a striping tool, a cylinder for striping Huid, a piston therein, operating means for the piston adapted for engagement with the work .to move the piston in accordancewith the relative movement of the tool and the Work, a member for applyin the iiuifd to the work, a plunger therein a jacent the discharge opening, avalve element seating on said plunger to control fluid flow and means to move the plunger and valve in unison to retract striping fluid from the discharge opening.

9. The structure of claim 8 and a ball and socket mounting for said uid applying member permitting a universal swinging adjustment thereof, and including semi-spherical elements clamped about said member which 30 when separated permit the sliding of the member therethru.

l0. In a striping tool, a tubular member having a striping iuid discharge nozzle at its end, a slidable sleeve contained within said :Qmiember and having a shouldered portion at one end, adjacent the discharge nozzle, a stein extending thru said sleeve and having a valve portion seatingagainst said shoulder, a lever for moving the valve oi its seat and a secondi seated on the shoulder away from the discharge nozzle to retract striping fluid from the nozzle.

11. In a striping tool, a passagewa for striping fluid, a movable plunger ip sai passageway, a valveelement havin a seat on said plunger and movable relative thereto,

to open and close thefpassagewa and means for moving the plunger and va ve in unison to retract fluid in the passageway beyond the valve.

12. In a striping tool, a passageway lead- J vice in the passageway adjacent the discharge opening, a valve having a seat on' the plunger,

vmeans vto move the valve relative to the plunger to seat or unseat the valve, and means to move the plunger with the -valve seated sageway beyond the valve and away from the discharge opening.

In testimony whereotwe aix our signa- .lever for moving the sleeve with the valvev i ing to an opening thru which the striping i fluid is discharged,"a movable plunger device in the passageway adjacent the discharge opening, a valve having a seat on the plunger,` means to move the valve relative to said plunger to permit iuid iow and to seat the valve and move the valve and plunger in vond the valve and retract the striping fluid from said opening.

13. In a striping tool, a passageway lead.-

unison to create suction in the passageway be- A ing to an oplening thru which the striping fluid is disc arged, a movable plunger de- "l0 thereon to retract strlping fluid 1n the pas-` 4.ma o 

